Out My Back Door

Atlanta had snow yesterday! That doesn't happen to often and it is always an "event" when it does. Grocery stores are swamped and milk and bread fly off the shelves. Everyone jokes about shutting down schools and businesses if there are three flakes seen but in truth, we are just not equipped to handle the ice that comes with our snow. If the wind doesn't come with the snow storm, it turns to ice and is treacherous. We had a couple of inches at our house yesterday, but it melted off our drive and sidewalks by the end of the day. There was plenty of wind with gusts up to 40 miles per hour so the water was pretty much blown away, for our county anyway. Our neighboring counties weren't quite so lucky and several did close schools or delayed the opening.

It has been a very long time since we've seen measurable snow fall at my house, so I took some pictures while it was happening.


I thought it was rather beautiful.

And this would have been a picture of Trixie experiencing snow for the first time but she wouldn't be still long enough to get a picture....



Later
D

I need a new phone!

Well I've tried everything I can think of and can find on the internet to get my creamer soaked phone to work again. However, nothing has worked, so I'm throwing in the towel and am in the market for a new phone.

My previous phone was a BlackBerry Pearl. I wanted a PDA type phone to keep my contacts, calendar entries. After my son and other friends insisted on texting me and I had over $8 in texting charges one month I subscribed to a texting plan too. I also have a BlackBerry for work so I don't really need a data plan for email on my personal phone, just the PDA stuff.

Now that I'm in the market for a new phone, I'm rethinking what I want from my phone.

Do I want another Pearl? Do I want a full Qwerty keyboard? Do I want a slider phone, flip phone, or perhaps a candy bar type? Do I want Wi-Fi? That would be very nice, but does that mean the phone will be much more expensive? What limits would wi-fi coverage have.

I have many more questions than I have answers.

I'll post my decision once it's made...

Later
D

Be Careful What You Say

When you make a statement like "Happiness Is A Choice" be prepared to have that statement tested!

Ever since my last post, I've been faced with numerous things that have tested my determination to "choose to be happy."



On Sunday, a pitcher of creamer was knocked off our table at lunch and it dumped into my purse right on top of my phone. We cleaned and wiped but the phone is dead and I'm using a loaner until I can get a replacement. Of course I don't have insurance and there is a little over a month before I'm eligible for an upgrade.

Then I'd noticed my car was a bit sluggish cranking one morning. The battery had to be replaced.

Often when we state a goal, then we are tested to see if we are serious about our promise.


I'm still choosing to be happy, but the choice is harder some days than others.

Happiness is a Choice

I have heard that statement before, and it is very true. When I'm in a bad mood, if I set my mind to being happy, it does help.



I think ultimately it comes from giving thanks as we are directed in the Bible. Philippians 4:4 tells us to "Rejoice in the Lord alway: [and] again I say, Rejoice." It doesn't say "when we feel like it" or "when we are having a good day." It says "alway", we are to always rejoice regardless of what is going on.

Honestly, I can't say I'm always happy with everything that happens in my life. There are times when my job, my family, my car or my dog make me unhappy. Do I stop and say "Wow, I'm glad that just happened"? No, but I try not to dwell on the bad and find the good in the situation. I can always say, "I'm glad I have God in this situation." Then it is my responsibility to rejoice. To actually say, "Thank you God." and even to ask God to "Please allow me to grow from this experience and be able to help others because of the experience."

Just like these pictures. One is Black & White, and looks like a cold dreary morning. It is not a cheerful shot. The other one is colorful and makes me think of the promise of day. The sun about to break over the horizon and warm my face. In reality they are the same shot. One is devoid of color the other is full of color. The difference is in the choice of how they are viewed.

Stop dwelling on the negative and choose to be happy. Let it go and look for the good.

Well, it's time for bed so I'll get off my soapbox and wish you all a good night.

Choose to be happy!

Later
D

Trixie's been bored

With the new grandbaby and Mom's heart problem, I've been too busy to take Trixie on our normal walk. I haven't played with as much as normal either. Well when you don't walk a dog or play with them enough to make them tired, they will find their own entertainment.

She has gone back to chewing my things. I'll have to get a new security badge at work tomorrow. I just hope I have enough of my current one to get in the door tomorrow morning. I can't be too mad at her when I haven't given her an outlet for all her energy. The Papillon breed is very active and definitely needs exercise everyday.

She also loves to find treasures in the yard. She loves to dig. Thankfully she doesn't dig too deeply.

(Oh, I found a treasure:)
Once she finds something she sticks her nose into the hole and eventually her face and feet are covered with dirt.

(What, I wasn't digging.)


The funniest thing to me, is when she comes in with dirt all over her face and acts like she hasn't been in the dirt at all.

(Really, I've not been digging!)


She makes me smile. ...most of the time anyway.

The Roller Coaster

Wow, this month has been a real roller coaster.

On January 11th we experienced the birth of our first grandchild, a beautiful, healthy baby boy. I was able take a week off work to spend helping out my son and daughter-in-law as they adjusted to having the new baby.

Then on January 21st, I received a call from my mother telling me she thought she was having a heart attack. We rushed her to the hospital and she had surgery for a blockage and a heart stent implanted. Then further testing showed she needed a pace maker so that surgery came the following day.

Mom is now home and improving daily, but it will be a slow process as she heals.

ff

The last three weeks have shown me just how quickly things can change and how precious each moment is. How life can change. I went the euphoria of having a new grandchild and watching this wonderful new being everyday for a week, back to the everyday grind of a job. From gathering pen and paper to head to a meeting, to grabbing my coat and rushing to the hospital. Joy, Excitement, Birth, Life, Daily Living, Fear, Worry, One short phone call, a couple of breaths, a heart beat that is thankfully still beating.

Don't take life for granted. We do not have the promise of tomorrow. We have today and the opportunity to tell those we love how much they mean to us. Don't let this chance slip away.